From 20th to 22nd March 2017: The African Economic Platform will be launched in Mauritius 

The African Union will launch the African Economic Platform (AEP) in Mauritius from 20th to 22nd March 2017. Eminent guests and speakers have already confirmed their presence.

H.E. Mr. Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby, Chairperson of the African Union and high profile business people from the continent including Nigerian billionaire, Mr. Aliko Dangote and Dr. Amadou Toure, amongst others have already confirmed their presence. The Mauritian delegation will be represented at the highest level and will be headed by Her Excellency President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim and the Right Honourable Pravind Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius.

The African Union Deputy Commission Chairperson, HE Mr Erastus Mwencha signed a Host Country Agreement between Mauritius, the African Union (AU) and AU Foundation for the organisation of the inaugural African Economic Platform. Leading the Mauritian delegation was Hon Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade while the AU Foundation was represented by one of its Council Members, Dr Amany Asfour, President of Egyptian Business Women Association. 

The African Economic Platform (AEP) is an Agenda 2063 programme that will bring together African Heads of State, captains of industry and academics to discuss African development priorities and challenges and will also provide a high-level networking platform. The AEP was conceptualised by the African Union Commission as a forum for frank engagement amongst African leadership from different spheres of society to reflect on how to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation  through collaboration, cooperation and joint ownership of Africa’s continental goals.

The African Economic Platform (AEP) will institutionalise a new annual platform for African leaders and create an avenue for dialogue amongst a range of sectors, including the African political leadership, business leaders in the private sector, universities and intellectuals. These sectors are critical to the economic transformation agenda: 

The Objectives of the Platform

1. Undertake constructive multi stakeholder dialogues around common themes for Africa, led by Africans and to influence continental policy by engaging directly with African leaders on matters of mutual interest.
2. Establish multi-country multi-sector priorities and plans for common action with clear mechanisms for follow up.
3. Work with African leaders to remove policy obstacles for doing business in Africa, increasing the investment attractiveness of the continent, the implementation of strategies for economic diversification and industrialisation, and domestic and other resource mobilisation.
4. To advocate for the removal of barriers that hamper communication and the flow of goods, people and services across the continent, create common platforms for articulating common African positions on global affairs and increase global awareness of Africa’s emerging role in world affairs.

Agenda 2063: The Future we want for Africa

The African Union’s Agenda 2063 action plan was formed at the Organisation of African Unity/African Union 50th anniversary celebration in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May 2013. In terms of the plan, African leaders made a pledge to accelerate growth, development and prosperity on the continent going forward to 2063.

The African Union Foundation is committed to helping the AU achieve its Agenda 2063, which is the vision and strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the African continent over the next 50 years. The aim is to achieve this by building on and accelerating existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development. In implementing Agenda 2063, prioritising the mobilisation of people and their ownership of continental programmes is critical. There must be a principle of self-reliance, with Africa financing its own development. 

There are seven African aspirations of Agenda 2063, which reflect the desire for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, and for a continent of free citizens, where full potential of women and youth are realised, with freedom from fear, disease and want. Here are the seven aspirations: 

1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. This includes:

•  Eradicating poverty and achieving high standards of living for all 
• Ensuring well-educated citizens and a skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation 
• Modernised infrastructure 
• Structurally transformed economies to create growth, decent jobs and economic opportunities for all 
• Modernised agriculture 
• Preservation of the environment and ecosystems 

 2. An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of pan-Africanism and the vision of the African renaissance:

•  Africa will be united 
• It will be an integrated continent, with seamless borders 
• There will be dynamic and mutually beneficial links with the Diaspora
• All remnants of colonialism ended by 2020 
• All forms of oppression ended 
• Free movement of people, goods, capital and services to increase trade and investment among countries 
• Infrastructure in place to accelerate integration and growth  

3. An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law:

• Africa will be a continent where democratic values, cultural practices, universal principles of human rights, gender equality, justices and the rule of law are entrenched 
• Africa will have capable institutions and transformative leadership at all levels 

4. A peaceful and secure Africa: 

• By 2020 all guns must be silent 
• There must be entrenched human rights, democracy, gender equality, inclusion and peace
• There will be mechanisms to promote and defend the continent’s security and interests 

5. An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics: 

• Pan-Africanism will be fully entrenched 
• The African renaissance will have reached its peak
• Our diversity in culture, heritage, languages and religion shall be a cause of our strength 

6. An Africa where development is people-driven, unleashing the potential of its women and youth: 

• People-centred and caring 
• Putting children first 
• Empowered women who play their rightful role in all spheres of life 
• Full gender equality in all spheres of life 
• An engaged and empowered youth  

7. Africa as a strong, united and influential global player and partner:

• A major social, political, security and economic force in the world 
• An active and equal participant in global affairs 
• Fully capable and with the means to finance her development 
• We look forward to your contribution towards the achievement of these aspirations and the creation of the Africa we all want.